Heart Rate Response and Heart Rate Recovery After Harvard Step Test Between Young High Intensity Aerobic Athletes Smokers and Non-Smokers

Abstract

Background: Smoking has an influence on physiological responses and exercise performance. Exercise training results in a slow resting heart rate through changes in cardiac autonomic balance in addition to intrinsic remodeling of the sinoatrial node. Compared with athletes in static sports, heart rate is slower in athletes involved in dynamic sports. However, not many studies have examined how smoking affects the heart rate response and heart rate recovery in high-intensity aerobic athletes. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study. Data on age, gender, body mass index, smoker or non-smoker status, resting heart rate, and blood pressure before the test were collected. Maximum heart rate, heart rate 1 minute after maximum, heart rate recovery, and blood pressure after the test were measured. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 24 program: unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney test, ANCOVA. Results: A total of 50 samples were involved in the study, divided into 25 smoking athletes and 25 non-smoking athletes. The mean resting heart rate in smoking athletes was significantly higher (75 vs 66, p<0.001). The mean maximum heart rate was higher in smoking athletes but not statistically significant (149.5 vs 147.6, p=0.635). The mean 1-minute heart rate after the test was found to be significantly higher in smoking athletes (123 vs 112, p=0.018). The mean heart rate recovery was significantly lower in the smoking athletes (26.3 vs 35.2, p=0.002). Covariate analysis of age, gender, and body mass index did not have a simultaneous effect on resting heart rate, maximum heart rate, 1-minute heart rate after the test, and heart rate recovery (p>0.05). Conclusion: Resting heart rate and 1-minute heart rate after the Harvard Step Test were higher in young high-intensity aerobic athletes who were smokers. Heart rate recovery was lower in young high-intensity aerobic athletes who were smokers.